Chapter 22:- Gossip and Rumours

Ronnie and Danielle were now making their way towards the Café hand in hand, they had decided upon Ian's for lunch as it was closest to them. Ronnie and Danielle came to a halt outside the Café, Ronnie gave Danielle a reassuring smile before squeezing her hand gently and letting go. Ronnie and Danielle entered the Café, everyone in it stopped still and turned to look at the strange couple that had entered, it was still pretty busy even though lunch time was coming to an end. Ian was behind the till serving and Jane was wiping down the tables as people left. "Carry On" Ronnie said boldly, she knew people would have been talking but this was ridiculous. She could feel Danielle move closer into her side as more eyes looked up, but much to Danielle's surprise as soon as Ronnie had made her command, everyone returned to their lunches, chatting away amongst each other.

Danielle sat at a small table in the corner of the Café, Ronnie sat down opposite and smiled over at her daughter who picked up a menu. "They'll find something else to gossip about eventually" Ronnie explained giving Danielle a reassuring smile as she fidgeted nervously under the eyes of others. "I know. I just wish they'd hurry up about it. I don't see why everyone has to stick there noses in" Danielle sighed, raising her voice a little at the end, causing a few listeners to snap their heads away in embarrassment.

Ian had taken their orders and shuffled back to the till, whispering something over to Jane. Ronnie and Danielle had both settled on a cup of tea and a cheese and salad sandwich, neither that really hungry. "So Dani what was it like in Telford?" Ronnie questioned wanting to know more about her daughter and the place she grew up. Danielle smiled over at Ronnie "It's nice. Peaceful. Nothing like here. There isn't a great deal to do. There's a big cinema and a great Ice Rink but not much else" Danielle answered quietly, just loud enough for only Ronnie to hear. Ian came over with the tea's and sandwiches taking as long as possible to place them on the table on the hope that he might catch a glimpse of their conversation. "Thanks" Danielle said smiling up at Ian as he stalked off a little disappointed that he hadn't heard anything.

Ronnie watched as Danielle thanked Ian, she always had such kind manners, something that Ronnie was grateful to Danielle's foster parents for, they had brought Danielle up to be respectful to others. "So what did you have a lot of friends?" Ronnie asked curiously watching Danielle pick at the corner of her sandwich. Danielle looked up and locked eyes with Ronnie as she spoke "I had a horse when i was younger, so i had a friend, where i used to ride. But then i just kind of gave up on it as i got older so we lost contact. I didn't have lots of friends at school, i was always the odd, quiet girl so i sort of got left out a lot of stuff. But in my last years of school I had three brilliant girlfriends we were like the outcast group, but we didn't care, we had each other" Danielle smiled happily to herself "I still speak to them now, occasionally" she finished, as Ronnie watched her daughter fascinated.

Ronnie smiled happily over at Danielle whilst taking a sip from her tea "sounds nice" Ronnie stated thinking about what Danielle had just said, she didn't have many friends in Walford either, she only had Stacey as far as Ronnie knew, but it was nice to know that Danielle had, had a happy childhood in her small group of friends. Danielle nodded over at Ronnie who's eyes were still focussed on Danielle. Ronnie removed herself from the seat and looked down at Danielle "just popping to the toilet" she said smiling, straightening out her top before placing a gentle hand on Danielle's shoulder and walking off towards the bathroom.

Shortly after Ronnie had left Danielle alone, Ian came over towards Danielle, wiping down the table next to where she was sat. Jane watched over curiously as she remembered she'd only just done that. Ian plonked himself down in Ronnie's now empty seat, causing Danielle to look up at him in shock. "So come on. Everyone's dying to know what's going on with you two?" Ian asked gingerly. Danielle's jaw dropped, Ian certainly didn't beat around the bush. "Well it's no one's buisness" Danielle said coldly standing strong. Ian's grin faded at Danielle's words "so there's definitely something going on?" Ian asked pushing Danielle further for more information, Danielle quickly glanced over to the toilet's door and then back at Ian who still sat opposite "so what if there is?" Danielle mumbled trying to sound confident. "Heard all sorts of rumours 'bout you two. It'd be nice just to put people straight" Ian said innocently. Danielle sighed "yeah and i bet you started half of them" Danielle spoke in a sarcastic tone, 'why can't people just leave us alone?' she thought to herself. Ian opened his mouth to say something, but snapped his mouth as he turned to see Jane staring at him in a disapproving way, as if saying 'leave the poor girl in peace'.

Ronnie came out of the bathroom looking straight over at Danielle, she spotted Ian in her seat, with a very flustered looking Danielle sitting opposite. Ronnie approached the pair and stood next to Ian looking down on him. Ian looked up with his usual Cheshire grin smirk, his reaction changed quickly realising Ronnie was less than impressed "R..." he stuttered quickly jumping up from his chair. Danielle smiled up at Ronnie, now seaming more relaxed that she didn't have to deal with Ian alone. "Can i help you with anything Ian?" Ronnie asked smiling over at Ian who was now stood next to her. "N...No" he stuttered again quickly turning and shuffling of back to the counter.

Ronnie slipped down into the empty seat and smiled over at Danielle "what did he want?" Ronnie asked curiously in a soft caring voice. Danielle returned the smile "not much, usual Ian fishing for gossip. He wanted to know what's going on with us two 'cause everyone's dying to know. Apparently there's loads of rumours going round 'bout us" Danielle explained sighing at the end, bored of gossipers already and it was only their first full day together as mother and daughter. Ronnie turned to face Ian who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze whilst being lectured about being nosey by Jane. "What did you say?" Ronnie asked running her finger around the edge of the tea cup. Danielle watched Ronnie do this and smiled to herself "erm...i told him that it was no-ones business and he probably started half the rumours himself" Danielle sniggered focusing her eyes on Ronnie's teacup. "Yeah typical Ian. I think people may find out eventually anyway" Ronnie admitted looking up at Danielle, was Danielle ashamed to tell people that Ronnie was her mother? Mind you Ronnie couldn't blame her, she was ashamed of herself right now.

Shortly after Ronnie paid Ian and herself and Danielle had left the Café as soon as they had finished eating, something about Danielle feeling uncomfortable after constantly getting eyeballed by Ian. Ronnie and Danielle joined hands and walked off happily in the direction of the Square.

Hey everyone Thanks so much to everyone that has reviewed so far, your Reviews mean sooo much to me and I am truly grateful. I hope everyone's enjoying my story. please review if possible sorry if there's spelling mistakes my spell checker doesn't work and I myself aren't that great at spelling. This chapter is kinda short but i promise i'll do an extra long one next :D read this bit below !!!!!

Oh BTW did evryone hear about the Danielle Jones shrine at the BBC ?? Classic I love it!! Well done to those that did it (if you ever read this, which i doubt lol) you certainly put a smile on my face. And i so hope it isn't moved :D in memory of Danielle Jones "GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN" i dedicate this chapter to you (even though fictional and everything) you gave us all something to write about.

Love Charlotte xx